RAYMOND Terrace StrikeZone tenpin bowl has been transformed into a Christmas wonderland designed to bring the joy of the festive season to children and adults alike.

The centre features more than $10,000 worth of Christmas decorations, lights and theming.

There are neon signs, huge posters, bells, holly, 16 new themed masking units and so much more.

Even the already bright and sparkling, recently extended arcade area and the prize shop have been given the treatment.

To the amazement of children, and the delight of cost conscious parents, the main feature is Santa’s lounge. Designed to allow families to save money by taking their own Christmas photos, it features a couch and life sized figures of the jolly man himself along with his wife.

Centre owner, Neville Marchbank, admits he might have overdone things a little with his big spend.

“But I’m a Christmas tragic, what can I say?” he said with a beaming smile, adding that every child’s look of wonderment is more than enough compensation, not to mention the thanks of parents who have saved money on Christmas photos.

Underscoring his festive generosity are the extremely low special prices for the duration of the December-January school holidays.

“We will again slash our casual bowling prices for the duration of the holidays.

“This applies to both children’s and adults’ games.

“As well, we will maintain our unbeatable weekend specials and re-introduce our popular holiday early birds’ hour of $6 games,” Neville announced.

The Christmas presents aren’t just for casual bowlers.

Every League bowler who qualified for Nev’s December 14 $2000 Christmas Toy Tournament walked away with a prize.

This week they are vying for $600 worth of cash prizes and a number of mystery prizes in the Side Hustle – a concept with prizes for achieving certain scores or conversions within their weekly league games.

Raymond Terrace StrikeZone is a 20-year old family owned and run business continually re-inventing and updating to keep up with the times while maintaining a commitment to Tenpin Bowling as a legitimate sport.

The 16 lane centre boasts all new approaches, state of the art oil and programmable oiling machines able to set a multitude of sports patterns while also guaranteeing the consistency and integrity of the house oiling pattern… features which recently convinced Hall of Famer and former World Champion Amanada Bradley to join a StrikeZone league.

“We won’t be hanging our pins from strings like an arcade game any time soon,” Neville said.

A major programme of significant additions to the bowl is 70 percent completed.

The two storey addition will see 3D Mini golf upstairs over a licensed pool and darts lounge.

“We had hoped to be open for the holidays but, like so many other building projects throughout the Newcastle and Port Stephens area, we have been severely hampered by trade and materials shortages.

“We simply are not prepared to sacrifice quality for speed.”

Neville believes that the additions will create both casual and semi-permanent job opportunities which are much needed in the local area.